Taiwan
TAIPEI – Record Compensation Awarded in Deadly Restaurant Outbreak
The families of six individuals who died from a severe food poisoning incident at a Malaysian restaurant in Taiwan will receive a record compensation of NT$10.8 million (approximately $326,500).
The deaths occurred at Polam Kopitiam’s Xinyi outlet in Taipei between March 19 and 24, 2024, affecting three men and three women aged 39 to 66, including a 40-year-old Malaysian man. The victims succumbed to serious complications after consuming the restaurant’s flat rice noodles.
An investigation revealed critical food handling errors, with noodles improperly stored at room temperature instead of being chilled as required. This negligence led to multiple fatalities, including a 66 year old man, who died from multiple organ failure, and a 39 year old man, who succumbed to acute renal failure after experiencing severe symptoms.
Beyond the six deaths, an additional 27 people were sickened by the contaminated food. The substantial compensation package represents an unprecedented response to a food safety disaster, underscoring the severe legal and health consequences of improper food preparation and storage.
TAIPEI – Suspected Food Poisoning Outbreak Triggers Investigation
A hot pot restaurant in Yilan County, Taiwan, has become the epicenter of a significant food poisoning incident, with 63 people affected and 33 requiring medical treatment, local health authorities reported on Saturday.
The Yilan County Public Health Bureau launched an investigation after initially receiving reports on Wednesday about customers experiencing severe symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the affected individuals dined at the restaurant between March 15-16.
Authorities took action to address the potential health hazard. The restaurant was immediately suspended and inspectors identified two critical hygiene violations. Authorities collected feces samples from 10 restaurant employees and five ill customers for thorough testing at the Centers for Disease Control.
Before being permitted to reopen, the restaurant must meet stringent requirements. Employees will be required to complete four hours of mandatory health and safety training and pass a food safety test. The restaurant has already submitted an improvement report and applied for operational reinstatement.
Health officials continue to conduct further safety checks to prevent potential future incidents at the restaurant.
Vietnam
HO CHI MINH CITY – Severe Botulism Case Highlights Dangerous Food Preservation Risks
A 25-year-old Vietnamese man in Ho Chi Minh City has been hospitalized with a critical case of botulinum poisoning after consuming improperly stored canned pate.
The patient’s doctor detailed the patient’s condition, which progressed to complete quadriplegia. The young man experienced severe symptoms including total body paralysis, drooping eyelids, dilated pupils, and became fully dependent on a ventilator.
Botulism, a life-threatening illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, can develop through contaminated food preservation methods. The toxin produces devastating neurological effects that can rapidly immobilize patients.
Despite the critical initial diagnosis, the patient has shown gradual improvement. Medical professionals observed he could partially open his eyes and regain some limb strength, though he remains on ventilator support.
This case is not an isolated incident in Vietnam. Recent years have seen multiple botulism outbreaks, including a 2021 incident where a 42-year-old woman died and two others were critically ill after consuming contaminated vegan food. In 2020, a similar outbreak linked to a Hanoi food company resulted in 16 poisoning cases, with one fatality and several patients requiring extended ventilator treatment.
HANOI – New Digital Food Safety Handbook to Boost Industry Standards
Vietnam has rolled out an online food safety system handbook, a centralized digital platform designed to help food businesses comply with national regulations. The initiative, led by the Vietnamese government, provides instant access to updated food safety guidelines, legal requirements, and self-assessment tools for producers, processors, and distributors.
The move aims to streamline compliance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and improve transparency in Vietnam’s growing food industry. The handbook is particularly targeted at SMEs, which often face challenges navigating complex regulations.
While the platform’s current features focus on regulatory documentation, its digital format allows for future expansions, such as multilingual support for export-oriented businesses. The handbook is now available in Vietnamese via government portals.
This launch aligns with Vietnam’s broader push to modernize food safety oversight and boost international confidence in its agricultural and seafood exports.
Malaysia
GENTING SEMPAH – Food Truck Incident Leaves 40 with Severe Food Poisoning
A recent catering incident resulted in multiple hospitalizations and widespread illness among event guests.
The incident occurred last month where a man booked a food truck to cater to 40 people on a brief holiday. What was meant to be a celebratory post-Chinese New Year meal quickly turned into a medical emergency.
According to social media accounts, the food truck arrived as scheduled, however, within just four hours, over 10 people began experiencing severe food poisoning symptoms, including intense vomiting and diarrhea. By the next morning, two individuals required hospitalization, while others sought medical treatment at local clinics.
The aftermath of the incident extended beyond immediate health concerns. Several attendees were forced to take sick days from work, and some children missed school. The total medical expenses for the group reached approximately USD 760, with the man who booked the caterer seeking an additional USD 450 in compensation from the food truck company.
When contacted about the incident, the truck company reportedly denied responsibility, claiming the driver who accepted the booking acted independently. However, the customer who booked the truck contends that the booking was made directly through the company, with staff confirming the reservation during the initial contact.
The company suggested the food poisoning might have been caused by earlier meals consumed by the group. The group disputed this claim, pointing out that the group was divided into five separate parties with varied dining experiences, and some members had not even eaten lunch that day.
Health experts emphasize the potential severity of food poisoning, which can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions. The incident is an example of the critical importance of food safety and hygiene standards in the catering industry and with mobile food trucks.
Those affected took to social media to raise awareness about the incident, hoping to draw attention to the potential risks of inadequate food handling and preparation.
Japan
TOTTORI CITY – Restaurant Chain Temporarily Closes Location After Rat Found in Soup
Japanese beef-bowl chain Sukiya has launched a comprehensive food safety review after a rat was discovered in a miso soup bowl at its Tottori Prefecture restaurant on January 21.
The incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. when a customer identified an unusual “foreign object” in their soup, which was subsequently confirmed to be a rodent. Immediate action followed, with the restaurant closing for a public health inspection before being permitted to reopen.
Company officials attributed the contamination to staff negligence, specifically a failure to conduct proper dish inspections before serving. In response, Sukiya has mandated rigorous checking procedures across its entire nationwide network of over 2,000 restaurants.
The chain, with outlets spanning multiple Asian countries, has publicly apologized for the incident and committed to strengthening its management systems to prevent similar food safety breaches.
Hong Kong
HONG KONG – Gastroenteritis Strikes Another Group of Students
Hong Kong health authorities are intensifying their investigation into a gastroenteritis outbreak among primary school students, highlighting a growing trend of similar incidents affecting multiple school groups traveling to mainland China.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported on Tuesday that five students from S.K.H. St Michael’s Primary School in Fortress Hill experienced acute gastroenteritis symptoms during a recent study tour to Xian, Shaanxi province. The outbreak is part of a broader pattern that has already impacted over 100 students and teachers from eight other schools in recent weeks.
The four-day trip, which involved 63 students and seven teachers, saw the first signs of illness emerge on Friday morning when a student began experiencing severe symptoms while traveling by bus. By Sunday, four additional students sitting nearby had developed similar health issues, with two seeking medical attention, though none required hospitalization.
Preliminary investigations suggest the symptoms are consistent with norovirus infection, a highly contagious illness typically spread through person-to-person contact or exposure to contaminated environments. The virus is notorious for causing acute gastroenteritis and is often associated with food poisoning.
The school’s Principal revealed that eight students from the same class experienced symptoms including fever and vomiting, either during the trip’s final day or after returning to Hong Kong. Five of these students have since returned to school and school officials said that all meals during the trip appeared clean and were served hot.
In response to the outbreak, health authorities have implemented comprehensive monitoring measures. They have contacted all trip participants and are conducting ongoing epidemiological investigations. Stool sample tests are being performed to confirm the norovirus diagnosis.
Health officials continue to provide guidance on prevention and control strategies to minimize further spread of the illness.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading norovirus lawyer said, “Norovirus is extremely common when there are large groups of people gathered together in confined surroundings. Practicing good hygiene and regular hand washing are good strategies to minimize transmission of the virus.”
